OKEANOS AGGRESSOR II (formerly Wind Dancer), COCOS ISLAND: Itinerary

AlcyoneA 600’ long submerged mountain, the top of the mountain is 75’ from the surface. Schooling Hammerheads, Mantas and schooling fish. Possible Sailfish or Marlin.

Big Dos AmigosThis islet features a 45-foot-high arch and 60-foot pinnacle off the southeast side. Look for Rainbow Runners, Yellowtail Snapper, Bigeye Jacks and lobster. Hammerheads swim between the pinnacle and arch.

Bird Island, Chatham BayDove from Chatham Bay, southeast of Manuelita, this site provides a variety of marine life including Frog Fish, lobsters, morays, rays, White Tip Sharks and Hammerheads. There is even a cleaning station.

Special expeditions (late Jan thru May) on OKEANOS AGGRESSORS I & OKEANOS AGGRESSOR II to Caño Island, Costa RicaEl Caño Island is a marine reserve located off the south pacific coast of Costa Rica in front of the Osa Peninsula. It is one of the most beautiful jewels in the Costa Rican National Park system. This lush green tropical island is home to resident tropical fish, beautiful colorful corals, marine flora, tuna, amberjacks, wahoo, rays, turtles, enormous schools of fish, humpback whales, pilot whales, white tip sharks, black tip sharks, nurse sharks and occasionally great hammerheads, whale sharks, marlin and dolphin can be seen. Most of the action at El Caño Island can be seen between 30 - 100 feet with visibility between 50 - 100 feet. The best diving in the water surrounding El Caño is done from the yachts two dinghies of the Wind Dancer and Okeanos Aggressor.

ITINERARY of Caño Aggressors I & II:All charters to Caño Island are 8 days/7 nights and includes 6 days of diving. Of the 6 days of diving; 3 dives per day will be offered with one day 2 dives being offered plus a land tour to Corcovado National Park (San Pedrillo Station or Sirena Station), Sierpe River Mangroves, or Caño Island or Drakes Bay Hiking Tour (see details below). During the week 3 night dives are offered. The Wind Dancer and Okeanos Aggressor depart from the port town of Puntarenas.

PRIME SCUBA DIVING SITES - Caño IslandBajo del Diablo: Depth: 15 - 110 feetThis site is one of the best in the area. It has a huge area in which we can perform up to 3 completely different dives as the rock formation extends up to 500 meters. With depths ranging from 20 feet up to 150 feet. This site has amazing rock formations such as peaks and valleys, which huge snappers call home. Also seen are oceanic manta rays, white tips and even pilot whales; this is definitely the place where anything can happen.

Devils Rock: Depth: 60-115 feetThis is an extension of Bajo del Diablo, the platform is so big that you can make up to three completely different dives in this area, Bajo Del Diablo, Devils Rock and Bajo del Diablo Deep, this site offers amazing rock formations and a huge amount of fish life. You will see white tip sharks, nurse sharks, all types of tropical fish mobula rays and manta rays, It is also a place where you can see big animals such as tuna or wahoo swimming by.

Bajo del Diablo Deep: Depth: 70 – 115 feetThis site offers great action, as it is the furthest away into the ocean where you can expect big things. From black tip sharks to great hammerhead sharks, white tips and huge nurse sharks. This is definitely one of the best sites the Marine Park has to offer.

Sharks Cave: Depth: 30-50 feetThis site is a shallow area with very calm water and close to the island. In this area there is a cave, which usually has up to 10 white tip sharks and has a very nice reef, which is covered with butterfly fish, small snappers, morish idols, surgeonfish and occasional mantas and different type of rays. It is definitely a beautiful relaxed dive.

The Arches: Depth: 30 – 55 feetThis unique rock formation that looks like arch’s as the name suggests, has very similar marine life to that one in Cueva del Tiburon (sharks cave) due to its proximity, you will find beautiful reef fish and several white tips during the dive.

El Barco Hundido: Depth 40 – 70 feetAlthough the name suggest that there is a sunken ship in the area you will not find one, this site has several rock formations. Huge schools of fish are seen including large groupers, amberjacks, rays and turtles.

Paraiso: Depth 60 – 70 feetLocated just outside of the limits of the national park, it is a place where you’ll have some current and an impressive amount of life, such as schools of snapper, amberjacks, schools of jacks, and a big amount of tropical reef fish, as well as schools of barracudas. Many times wahoo patrol this area as well as humpback whales can be seen.

Queque: Depth 80 – 110 feetThis site is located just outside the protected marine reserve area, as its main feature has a big rock with so much soft coral that gives the diver an amazing opportunity for pictures. Big snapper, amberjacks, white tip sharks are seen along with the biggest attraction, “the Garden” which has varieties of color such as yellow, orange, greens and purple. This dive is always remembered by the large quantities of fish that are seen.

El Faro: Depth 30-80 feetThis dive site has a very nice rock formation where you will see lots of gorgonias and tropical fish. You will have a chance to see big fish such as amberjacks and snappers.

Paradisus: Depth 70 -80 feetThis site is close to Paraiso, you will find very similar rock formations that are a mix between big rocks and sand areas where white tip sharks are found as well as huge schools of fish and schools of barracuda. Many times this site is remembered for the singing of humpback whales.

Coral Garden: Depth 15 – 40 feetThis place is perfect for last dives of the day or the night dive; it has a nice coral garden surrounded by a variety of tropical fish. It is an easy and relaxed dive where you can observe white tip sharks and other small fish swimming around the colorful coral gardens.

Complimentary Land ToursDuring the week, guests will be offered a complimentary day tour to one of these amazing bio-diverse parks where the scenery is spectacular. Guests will be taken by dinghy to one of these amazing parks; the tour will depend on the tide and weather conditions:

1) Sierpe River Mangrove Tour: The mangroves in the Terraba and Sierpe Rivers are part of the Sierpe-Terraba Wetland Reserve that protects over 22.000 hectares of pristine mangrove forests. It is a very important ecosystem that includes swamps, lagoons , estuaries and coral reefs merging the rivers and the ocean. It is one of the biggest mangrove ecosystems in the American Pacific. Residents include a huge variety of species of birds, reptiles, fish, and mammals along its waters. Birds include herons, parrots, toucans, hummingbirds and red macaws. Reptiles include alligators and caimans as well as various kinds of snakes like boas and the fer-de-lance. Mammals include 4 types of monkeys, raccoons, and various species of cats, sloths, wild boars, tapirs, squirrels, coatis and others.

2) Corcovado National Park Hike, San Pedrillo Station: This station is the nearest to Drakes Bay; it contains spectacular biodiversity. You can watch four types of monkeys; coatis, sloths, anteaters, and many more. A huge variety of birds can be seen including kingfishers, red macaws, tanagers, and toucans. Reptiles include snakes, turtles and lizards. The hike level is easy and ends in a beautiful waterfall where you can refresh yourself.

3) Corcovado National Park, Sirena Station: This station is located in the center of Corcovado’s rainforest and is accessible by boat only. Its attractions include four types of monkeys, wild boars, tapirs, a huge variety of birds and the possibility of watching whales, marine turtles and dolphins during the boat ride. There is also a river mouth where you can observe the bull sharks swimming into the estuary along with huge crocodiles in the mouth of the river. It is an outstanding place to observe wild life and the scenery and landscape are unbeatable.

4) Caño Island Hiking Tour: The Island offers an intermediate hike that climbs up to a small archeological site and an ocean lookout. The vegetation and scenery are very appealing.

5) Drakes Bay Hiking Tour: The hike from Drakes Bay to San Josecito Bay lets guests enjoy the fusion between the rainforest and the ocean. It’s an easy hike along the coast and rainforest going through small streams and lonely beaches that dazzle nature lovers. The walk ends in the beautiful San Josecito Bay.